BREAKING: Manhunt Underway, CEO Shot Dead in Apparent Targeted Assassination Outside Hotel, Killer Loose in NYC

The CEO of United Healthcare has allegedly been shot dead outside of a hotel in New York City.

According to reports, Brian Thompson was fatally shot at close range multiple times by an assailant prior to a yearly meeting of investors.

Witnesses and police describe a possible well-planned targeted killing as opposed to random violence, with the shooting possibly having waited all night to get a shot at the CEO of United Healthcare.

NEW: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and k*lled in Manhattan by a man in a black mask.

The 50-year-old CEO was outside of the Hilton hotel when a man came up to him and shot him in the chest.

The masked man, who had a grey backpack on, then fled into a nearby… pic.twitter.com/umBPdGby17

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 4, 2024

Still images from surveillance video shows the killer firing at Thompson from a handgun before escaping on a bicycle.

🚨SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS SHOW MOMENT UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO FATALLY SHOT

Dramatic surveillance photos have been released showing the exact moment UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the Midtown Hilton in New York City.

The images depict a masked assailant… https://t.co/Ya8nBEOrxs pic.twitter.com/6arD5MNil2

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 4, 2024

The possible targeted attack took place in front of the Hilton Hotel in NYC.

CEO of UnitedHealthcare fatally shot outside of Hilton hotel in Midtown in possible targeted attack: sources https://t.co/HCvBXdP80G pic.twitter.com/i2x8rPxfpC

— New York Post (@nypost) December 4, 2024

The New York Post was the first to identify the victim of the targeted killing as 50 year old CEO Brian Thompson.

The CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division was gunned down Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown in what police say was a targeted attack.

Brian Thompson, 50, was at the hotel around 6:46 a.m., arriving early for a conference, when a masked man allegedly waiting for him fired at him repeatedly and fled eastbound off 6th Avenue, police sources told The Post.

Thompson was hit in the chest. He was rushed in critical condition to the Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

The suspect was described as a white male wearing a cream-colored jacket, black face mask, and black and white sneakers. Officials said he was carrying a gray backpack.

Witnesses told The Post the suspect had been spotted near the vicinity of the hotel, on 6th Avenue, milling around.

When the suspect spotted Thompson, he began to fire from a distance, striking him multiple times, police sources added.

The masked man then fled through the Ziegfeld alleyway and hopped on a bike to escape.

Journalist Steve Norris is reporting that the assailant fired from 20 feet away with a gun that had a “silencer” affixed.

Gun had a “silencer” on it. Shooter is white and was wearing black hoodie, black pants, black sneakers w/white trim on them. United Healthcare is the largest private insurer in the United States. It was about to hold an investor conference, which has now been canceled.

— Steve Norris (@SteveNorrisTV) December 4, 2024

NYPD is currently engaged in a manhunt searching for the suspect, and has a press conference scheduled for 11:30am EST according to a report in Fox Business News.

A manhunt is underway as the suspect remains at-large.

The sources said the shooting was not a random incident.

News camera captured video of first responders working to revive Thompson on the sidewalk outside the Hilton before he was transported to the hospital.

A police press conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

According to ABC News, police say the shooter was wearing a ski mask and fled down an alleyway near West 55th St.

The suspect is described as a skinny man, standing at about 6-foot-1 and wearing all black.

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UPDATE:  According to the NYPD news conference just a short time ago, a 911 call came in at 6:46am reporting the shooting.

At 6:48am, NYPD officers arrived and found the victim.

The shooter is now known to have arrived at the location on foot just a few minutes before encountering Brian Thompson and shooting him multiple times.

Thompson’s wife stated that she was aware he had received threats prior to today’s events.

Here’s the clip of the NYPD news conference from earlier.

JUST IN: The wife of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson says he had received threats leading up to the sh**ting in Manhattan.

New developments reveal that the suspect had a silencer and escaped through Central Park.

“There had been some threats,” Paulette Thompson said.

When… pic.twitter.com/7JRoWqUFpy

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 4, 2024

This is a developing story.  We will bring you more information as it becomes available.